by admin | Mar 13, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
Although Ada Brownell was an unknown author to me, I usually enjoy novels with a historic western setting so I decided to give “The Lady Fugitive” a try. I found it to be an engrossing story with solid characters and a strong message of salvation woven through it.
When Jenny Parks makes a desperate run for freedom from her abusive uncle, she continues to cross paths with William O’Casey, a peddler who is also committed to presenting an early moving picture, “The Passion of Christ” in the towns he travels through. As William frequently comes to Jenny’s rescue, the pair begin to develop some feelings for each other but between personal complications and misunderstandings, any hope for a future together seems doomed.
The plot of “The Lady Fugitive” moved at a steady pace and contained numerous plot twists and surprises along the way. With numerous positive characters as well as villains, there was never a dull moment. I would not hesitate to recommend this novel.
This book was provided for review by the Book Club Network, Inc.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
How does a respected elocutionist become a face on a wanted poster?
Jenny Louise Parks escapes from the coal bin and her abusive uncle offers a handsome reward for her return. Because he is a judge, he will find her.
Determination to remain free grips Jenny, especially after she meets William and there’s a hint of romance. But while peddling household goods and showing a Passion of the Christ moving picture, he discovers his father’s brutal murder.
Will Jenny avoid the bounty hunters? Can she forgive the person who turns her in? Will she find peace, joy and love?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ADA (NICHOLSON) BROWNELL’s prolific writing career began in her teens with writing for youth magazines. She taught youth much of her life. She and her husband had five children of their own. Nearly 300 articles of her articles and stories have appeared in 45 Christian publications, and she spent 17 years as a journalist, mostly at The Pueblo Chieftain in Colorado. Brownell has a B.S. Degree in mass communications and a certificate of ministry from Berean School of the Bible, now Global University. She continues to write books; articles for Christian publications, and occasional op-ed pieces for newspapers.
by admin | Mar 12, 2015 | Books, Historical, Post Civil War
MY REVIEW:
As a long-time fan of Colleen Coble’s books, I was thrilled to be included in the blog tour for her six-book series, Journey of the Heart. The first book of the series, “A Heart’s Disguise” is just the beginning of Sarah and Rand’s story and it left me wanting more. I anxiously await the next installment so I can learn what happens next.
A letter from the author informs her readers that these books were her very first and have been re-released after being out for print for quite a few years. Although Colleen has written many books since this series, her talent was so evident even in her earliest efforts and are more confirmation of why I love her books.
Mourning the death of her fiance to the Civil War, Sarah Montgomery lives with her quickly failing father and an over-bearing brother. Because of their encouragement and hoping to please them, Sarah agrees to marry Ben Croftner even though she does not love him. Shortly after their engagement, Sarah’s fiance Rand returns home very much alive. Lies and deception are exposed and things turn just a little ugly.
As the first book of most good series do, “A Heart’s Disguise” ended with more questions than answers. What happens next for Sarah and Rand? Will Rand ever trust her again? Will Sarah leave her family to follow Rand? What about Ben – will he give up on Sarah easily? I guess I will have to wait for “A Heart’s Obsession” to find out.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young woman searches for her lost love at the edge of the West.
The Civil War has destroyed Sarah Montgomery’s marriage before it’s even begun.
After Sarah receives word that her fiancé, Rand Campbell, has been killed fighting for the Union, her brothers and ailing father persuade her to pledge herself to Ben Croftner—despite her strong misgivings. But when Sarah finds out that Rand is in fact alive—and that Ben Croftner knew it—she indignantly breaks off the engagement and goes in search of Rand.
But Ben Croftner does not take rejection lightly—and a single woman with a sick father makes an easy target. When Sarah is abducted by her treacherous fiancé, Rand finally comes to her aid . . . only to reveal that he has been posted at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and intends to take her there as his wife.
But could Sarah leave her dying father’s side for the love of her life? And what plans are forming in the jealous heart of Ben Croftner?
Learn more and purchase a copy at the Thomas Nelson website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. “Seagrass Pier,” the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.
Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.
In the midst of end-of-war celebrations, Sarah discovers her betrothed was keeping a devastating secret in Colleen Coble’s A Heart’s Disguise. Will Sarah leave her dying father’s side for the only man she’s ever loved? And what plans are forming in the jealous heart of Ben Croftner?
Celebrate book one in Colleen’s A Journey of the Heart series by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
- A copy of A Heart’s Obsession (blog tour coming in April)
- A copy of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge (blog tour coming in April)
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen’s website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge! RSVP here!
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!
by admin | Mar 11, 2015 | Books, Civil War, Historical, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingSpy of RichmondRiver North (March 1, 2015)byJocelyn Green
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jocelyn Green is a child of God, wife and mom living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is also an award-winning journalist, author, editor and blogger. Though she has written nonfiction on a variety of topics, her name is most widely recognized for her ministry to military wives: Faith Deployed. Her passion for the military family was fueled by her own experience as a military wife, and by the dozens of interviews she has conducted with members of the military for her articles and books, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and its sequel, Faith Deployed…Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. She is also co-author of both Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front (forthcoming, May 2012). Her Faith Deployed Web site and Facebook page continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement and resources for military wives worldwide.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Trust none. Risk all. Richmond, Virginia, 1863. Compelled to atone for the sins of her slaveholding father, Union loyalist Sophie Kent risks everything to help end the war from within the Confederate capital and abolish slavery forever. But she can’t do it alone. Former slave Bella Jamison sacrifices her freedom to come to Richmond, where her Union soldier husband is imprisoned, and her twin sister still lives in bondage in Sophie’s home. Though it may cost them their lives, they work with Sophie to betray Rebel authorities. Harrison Caldwell, a Northern freelance journalist who escorts Bella to Richmond, infiltrates the War Department as a clerk-but is conscripted to defend the city’s fortifications.
As Sophie’s spy network grows, she walks a tightrope of deception, using her father’s position as newspaper editor and a suitor’s position in the ordnance bureau for the advantage of the Union. One misstep could land her in prison, or worse. Suspicion hounds her until she barely even trusts herself. When her espionage endangers the people she loves, she makes a life-and-death gamble.
Will she follow her convictions even though it costs her everything-and everyone-she holds dear?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Spy of Richmond, go HERE.
by admin | Mar 9, 2015 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I cannot get enough of Jen Turano’s books. Perhaps it is because I tend to be a bit glum at times and her novels help to get me out of the dumps. Or it may just be that it is because her books are filled with some of the most feisty, witty, and sometimes even outrageous characters that I just have to love them.
It is entirely possible that “After a Fashion” could be the most over-the-top Turano offering yet. There were times it bordered on slapstick comedy and I loved every minute of it! The characters are wonderful! Each one is a distinct individual and despite some of the craziness, believe it or not, each was entirely plausible. Harriet and Oliver were both special characters who were perfect for each other even if they took awhile to realize it. And Harriet’s roommates were an added bonus. I am hoping to find future books featuring each of them.
“After a Fashion” is just such a fun-filled story yet it has plenty of depth to it also. It is not just fluff. As always, I found a serious spiritual message woven throughout the story. There is also a bit of danger and mystery that apparently will continue into the next book of the series. I certainly don’t mind that – it just makes me anxious for its release.
Readers, if you have not experienced Jen Turano’s novels, please don’t wait any longer. “After a Fashion” would be an excellent book to begin.
This book was provided for review by the author
and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.
Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.
Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can’t make her fashionable. She’ll never truly fit into Oliver’s world, but just as she’s ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.
Read an excerpt from “After A Fashion” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Turano, author of A Change of Fortune, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, and A Talent for Trouble, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
by admin | Mar 9, 2015 | Amish, Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Anna’s Crossing” is entirely different from any other Amish novel I have encountered while reviewing many of them over the past several years. As a lover of historical fiction, I found it to fit easily into that genre rather than the typical Amish romance I expected.
A narrative describing the voyage of a group of Amish and Mennonite settlers who hope for a better life without persecution in the New World, the novel features Anna König, a young Amish woman who has reluctantly agreed to accompany her fellow believers on the voyage and Bairn, the ship’s carpenter. Despite their vast differences in lifestyle and beliefs, Anna and Bairn’s encounters lead to a friendship that could lead to an even stronger attachment.
This book is filled with excellent historical details that I believe accurately illustrate the conditions experienced by the people on board the Charming Nancy as well as their reactions to their circumstances. Complete with drama, danger, romance, and even some humor courtesy of young Felix, “Anna’s Crossing” held my attention throughout. I especially enjoyed the revelation of a surprise or two that are in store for the reader.
If you are a lover of Amish fiction, “Anna’s Crossing” is a must read to learn some of the early history of these believers but even those who do not normally enjoy Amish fiction may find it captivating. I enthusiastically recommend this novel.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Some endings are really beginnings . . .
On a hot day in 1737 in Rotterdam, Anna König reluctantly sets foot on the Charming Nancy, a merchant ship that will carry her and her fellow Amish believers across the Atlantic to start a new life. As the only one in her community who can speak English, she feels compelled to go. But Anna is determined to complete this journey and return home–assuming she survives. She’s heard horrific tales of ocean crossings and worse ones of what lay ahead in the New World. But fearfulness is something Anna has never known.
Ship’s carpenter Bairn resents the somber people–dubbed Peculiars by the deckhands–who fill the lower deck of the Charming Nancy. All Bairn wants to do is to put his lonely past behind him, but that irksome and lovely lass Anna and her people keep intruding on him.
Delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions test the mettle and patience of everyone on board. When Anna is caught in a life-threatening situation, Bairn makes a discovery that shakes his entire foundation. But has the revelation come too late?
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the beginning of Amish life in America with this fascinating glimpse into the first ocean crossing–and the lives of two intrepid people who braved it.
Read an excerpt from “Anna’s Crossing” HERE.
Endorsements:
“I found Anna’s Crossing to be everything I love in a novel, especially in a historical novel! Fast paced, character driven, filled with rich descriptions and enjoyable dialogue. It was a pleasure to read, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to endorse it.”–Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“This novel is a winner.”–Publishers Weekly
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, The Calling, the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.
by admin | Feb 26, 2015 | Books, Historical, Montana, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
Both Patience Cavanaugh and Sheriff Jedediah Jones have had bad experiences with love and neither has any intention of getting involved anytime in the near future. In fact, the pair clashed mightily during their very first meeting. During subsequent encounters Jedediah found Patience annoying and too outspoken for his taste – yet felt himself mysteriously drawn to her. Could God have plans for the two of them?
With a quickly moving plot, lots of action, plenty of humor, and of course romance, “The Trouble With Patience” is one more Maggie Brendan novel for my keeper shelf. I loved the way the author tied the story together with characters who were unknowingly connected in some way and how they discovered the connection. I also loved how well she was able to misdirect my suspicions about the identity of true villain of the tale – what a surprise!
“The Trouble With Patience” is a wonderful tale of compassion and forgiveness and the unfailing love of the Lord.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Patience Cavanaugh has lost hope in romance. The man she yearned to marry is dead and her dreams are gone with him. Now she is consumed with restoring a dilapidated boardinghouse in order to support herself.
Despite Patience’s desire for solitude, Jedediah Jones, the local marshal with a reputation for hanging criminals, becomes an ever-looming part of her life. It seems like such a simple arrangement: She needs someone with a strong back to help her fix up the boardinghouse. He needs a dependable source of food for himself and his prisoners. But as she gets to know this “hanging lawman,” Patience finds there is far more to him than meets the eye–and it could destroy their tenuous relationship forever.
With a keen eye for historical detail and a deft hand at romantic tension, Maggie Brendan invites you to a Montana gold rush boomtown, where vices and virtues are on full display and love is lying in wait.
Read an excerpt from “The Trouble With Patience” HERE.
Endorsements:
“Maggie Brendan deftly captures the flavor of the Old West in a sweet love story filled with suspense and well-developed, interesting characters that will surely capture the hearts of readers.”–Kathleen Morgan, author of the Brides of Culdee Creek series
“Maggie Brendan has created a wealth of memorable characters in this heartwarming story. Romance, mystery, and an intriguing plot all add up to a winning combination that’s sure to delight readers.”–Margaret Brownley, bestselling author of Gunpowder Tea and Petticoat Detective
“Brendan is a master at tender love stories that tug at your heart while touching the soul, providing rich historical detail and tension that races the pulse.”–Julie Lessman, award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston series
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Maggie Brendan is the bestselling author of several books, including the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series. Winner of the 2013 Laurel Wreath Award, she was a 2013 finalist for the Published Maggie Award of Excellence, a 2013 finalist for the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award, a 2012 finalist for Inspirational Reader’s Choice award, and a recipient of the 2004 ACW Persistence Award in Atlanta. She is a member of the Author’s Guild; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope, and Love; and Georgia Romance Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, researching for her novels, and spending time with her family. You can follow her at her website www.MaggieBrendan.com, her blog www.SouthernBelleWriter.blogspot.com, and on Facebook and Twitter @MaggieBrendan.
